Adustable Orthopedic Aid For an Extremity

ABSTRACT

An orthopaedic aid for an extremity includes at least one adjustable element for positioning the orthopaedic aid relative to the extremity. The detector arrangement includes a plurality of indicators for indicating torques generated by the detector arrangement. The detector arrangement is positionable such that a section of the detector arrangement is torque-free. The detector arrangement generates torques arising in two opposite directions in a measuring plane in response to deviations from a stable load position.

The invention relates to an orthopedic aid, in particular a prosthesis for an extremity, with at least one adjustable attachment for producing a desired orientation.

The adjustment of orthopedic aids, such as orthoses and prostheses, requires particular care, especially where lower extremities are concerned. Prostheses that have not been correctly set can cause considerable lack of balance of the prosthesis wearer and, in the worst case, can even cause falls and resulting injuries.

For the adjustment of orthoses and in particular prostheses, measuring devices are known which determine the fit of the orthopedic aid during a stable static load position, by evaluating the forces acting on a support surface and showing these on a suitable display. Such a system from the Applicant is known and in use as LASAR Posture. A problem, however, is that such equipment is not available to all orthopedic engineers.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to allow certain adjustments to be made to an orthopedic aid, but without a complicated measuring system.

With an orthopedic aid of the type mentioned at the outset, this object is characterized by a detector arrangement which is positioned and designed in such a way that a section is torque-free in the desired orientation and during a stable, static load position in a measuring plane, generates torques in the measuring plane during slight deviations from the stable load position, and comprises indicators for indication of torques arising in two mutually opposite directions in the measuring plane.

The orthopedic aid according to the invention permits verification of the desired orientation on the individual patient, by the fact that the freedom from torque in the measuring plane is determined on the indicators by the fact that no torque is generated in two mutually opposite directions or that torques are generated in both directions in the event of any deviation movements outside the stable static load position.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the detector arrangement has at least one lever that can pivot about a pivot point, said pivot point lying in a load line of the stable load position. The lever preferably has the pivot point at one end, and a rotating free end that forms the torque-free section.

The detector arrangement can be incorporated fixedly into an orthopedic aid. It is preferable if, during use of the aid, the free end is securely connected by means of a locking means, preferably a locking screw, to a structure of the orthopedic aid and, for verification of the desired orientation, can be released slightly in order to permit a pivoting of the section in the measuring plane in both directions. The desired orientation of the orthopedic aid is verified by releasing the locking means, as a result of which the free end of the lever, in the event of correct orientation in the measuring plane preferably forming the sagittal plane, is moved neither upward nor downward, but instead catches in a position of balance between limit stops of the released locking means. In the event of slight balancing movements of the patient, that is to say slight deviations from the stable static load position, which result from balancing movements while standing, a corresponding movement of the free end of the lever takes place in both opposite directions. By contrast, if there is a marked deviation from the desired orientation, in other words an incorrect adjustment of the orthopedic aid, the lever will bear firmly on a limit stop upon release of the locking means, as a result of which the incorrect adjustment can be identified. After the adjustment of the orthopedic aid has been corrected, the verification can be carried out again. If the desired orientation is then obtained, the locking means can be actuated and the orthopedic aid can be used in a correct setting.

In an alternative embodiment, the detector arrangement can comprise two levers with free ends which are connected to each other by means of the pivot point and which, in the desired orientation during the stable load position, form torque-free sections. The indicators can in this case be formed by limit stops that act counter to the relative movement of the free ends.

In order to avoid a noticeable movement of the two levers relative to each other, the indicators can be electronic force transducers with which the resulting torques can be measured.

The avoidance of electronic structural elements and of their energy supply is achieved by the fact that the indicators are elastic buffers that can be deformed by the relative movement of the free ends. However, these indicators require a noticeable movement of the levers relative to each other, such that the detector arrangement is expediently designed as an exchangeable adapter and can be fitted into the orthopedic aid only for verification of the desired orientation, in place of a structural element of the same size. The adapter can then be fitted into the orthopedic aid in a fixed orientation, in order to check the desired orientation. For use of the orthopedic aid, the structural element of the same size is then installed in place of the adapter, since, because of the elastic buffers, the use of the orthopedic aid with the adapter would lead to the patient feeling uncertain in his or her movements. The use of this embodiment is preferred for a prosthesis with a knee joint. However, a design as another joint, in particular a hip joint, is also possible.

The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of illustrative embodiments depicted in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through an artificial foot, with a detector arrangement secured by a locking screw;

FIG. 2 shows the view according to FIG. 1, with the locking screw released;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a prosthesis with a detector arrangement above a knee joint;

FIG. 4 shows a detail of the detector arrangement according to FIG. 3.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a foot prosthesis whose functional structure is accommodated in a cosmetic envelope 1 forming the foot contour. A sole structure extending substantially along the full length of the foot is composed of a strip-shaped lower sole spring 2 and, arranged above the latter, a control spring 3, which also extends substantially along the length of the foot. Both springs 2, 3 can be made of a suitable elastic material, for example of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. Located above the sole structure formed by the two springs 2, 3, there is a rigid foot upper part in the form of a lever 4, on whose top face there is an adapter (not shown), above which there protrudes an adjustment sleeve 5 of a lower leg tube part 6. At the lower end of the adjustment sleeve 5 there are four adjustment screws J with which the position of the adjustment sleeve 5, and thus of the lower leg tube part 6, relative to the foot structure can be adjusted, by means of the adjustment screws J interacting with truncated pyramid surfaces (visible on the adapter according to FIG. 4).

The lever 4 of the foot upper part extends from a heel end to a front end, which lies approximately at the foot center and at which the lever 4 is connected to the control spring 3 and the sole spring 2, with a respective planar damper 7, 8 positioned between them. The connection by means of a bolt 9 is effected such that the lever 4 can execute a pivoting movement relative to the control spring 3 and relative to the sole spring 2, and the control spring 3 can execute a pivoting movement relative to the sole spring 2, in the sagittal plane, whereas there is an at least reduced freedom of movement in the frontal plane perpendicular thereto.

At the heel end, the lever 4 is connected to the rear end of the control spring 3 by means of a locking screw 10. Between the rear end of the control spring 3 and the rear end of the sole spring 2, a heel damper 11 in the form of an elastic foam block is fitted which, when the heel is set down, is subjected to pressure, and, when the foot makes a rolling movement over the toe area, is subjected to tension. The tensile load is limited by a strap 12 which loops round the outside of the sole spring 2 and the control spring 3 and which does not impede the compression of the heel damper 11, but does limit the elongation of the heel damper under the tensioning action.

At the front end in the toe area, the sole spring and the control spring 3 are connected to each other via another damper 13.

When the heel is set down, the heel damper 11 is compressed, as a result of which the position of the lower leg tube 6 of a lower leg prosthesis relative to the sole structure 2, 3 pivots rearward, as a result of which a desired plantar flexion of the foot relative to the lower leg tube 6 is obtained. The control spring 3 acts here as a two-armed lever whose heel section is pressed down relative to the heel section of the sole spring 2, as a result of which the control spring 3 in the forward area of the foot toward the toe area lifts the sole spring 2 and thus imitates a natural toe movement when the heel is set down, which facilitates the rolling movement of the foot. In the rolling movement of the foot past the stand phase, the sole spring, convexly shaped on the underside, is loaded in the forward area of the foot, such that the sole spring 2 in the heel area is pressed down relative to the lever 4, as a result of which the heel damper 11 is relieved or subjected to tensioning. This load is limited by the flexible but non-elastic strap 12.

The construction of the illustrated foot is based on the fact that the hinge structure formed by the dampers 7, 8 and the bolt 9, and forming a pivot point between lever 4 and sole structure 2, 3, is located in the perpendicular load line 14 of the patient when standing, as is shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the center of gravity of the patient is located perpendicularly above the pivot point 7, 8, 9. If this is not the case, because the center of gravity of the patient is not perpendicularly above the pivot point 7, 8, 9, but instead forms an angle with the latter, as is illustrated for the load line 14′ in FIG. 2, a torque is exerted on the lever 4, such that the lever 4 presses with its free end against the upper head of the screw 10. If, by contrast, the load line 14 is located perpendicularly above the pivot point 7, 8, 9, the heel end of the lever 4 is unloaded, that is to say the lever 4 is free of torque relative to the pivot point 7, 8, 9.

To check the correct adjustment of the lower leg tube 6 relative to the lever 4, the locking screw 10 is loosened, such that the heel end of the lever 4 is afforded a vertical range of movement that is limited by an upper limit stop 15, formed by the screw head, and a lower limit stop 16, formed here by the heel end of the control spring 3. If the perpendicular load line 14 is located perpendicularly above the pivot point 7, 8, 9, the heel end of the lever 4 is unloaded and can therefore assume a balance position within the range of movement limited by the limit stops 15, 16. By contrast, if the load line 14′ enters the pivot point 7, 8, 9 at an angle to the perpendicular, the lever 4 is subjected to a torque which, in the case of the load line 14′, presses the heel end of the lever 4 against the upper limit stop 15. The free heel end of the lever 4 will therefore remain on the upper limit stop 15 in the event of a corresponding incorrect adjustment, even if the patient when standing makes the usual balance compensation movements.

By contrast, if the adjustment is correct, such that the center of gravity is located within the perpendicular load line 14, the balance compensation movements of the patient lead to a movement of the heel end of the lever 4 between the upper limit stop and the lower limit stop, as is known from a lever balance. The balance compensation movements, which take place forward and backward in the sagittal plane, can be detected from a corresponding upward and downward movement of the heel end of the lever 4 in the movement range, if the adjustment is made correctly. Otherwise, the free end of the lever 4 remains on one of the limit stops 15, 16, because of the incorrect adjustment.

When the correct adjustment has been established, the locking screw 10 can be tightened in order to produce a firm connection of the lever 4 to the sole structure 2, 3 and to ensure that the patient does not experience any feeling of imbalance, during walking, as a result of play within the foot structure.

Another illustrative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. These show the cosmetic envelope 1 of a foot prosthesis and the adjoining lower leg tube 6. Arranged at the upper end of the lower leg tube 6 there is an artificial knee joint 17, which connects the lower leg tube part 6 to a receiving funnel 18 for a thigh stump of the patient. FIG. 3 indicates the perpendicular load line 14 intended to pass through the center of gravity of the patient in the sagittal plane. Ideally, the perpendicular load line 14 passes through the pivot point 7, 8, 9 of the foot prosthesis and approximately 20 mm in front of a pivot axis 19 of the knee joint.

In use, the knee joint 17 is connected securely to the receiving funnel 18 via a securing adapter (not shown). The securing adapter can be equipped with additional functions. To check the adjustment of the prosthesis arrangement, an adapter 20 with a detector arrangement is fitted between the knee joint 17 and the receiving funnel 18. The detector arrangement has a lower lever 21 and an upper lever 22, which are connected to each other at their front ends via a pivot hinge 23. The lower lever is provided with an adapter bushing 24 with adjustment screws J, in order to produce an adjustable attachment to the lower leg tube part, which is provided on the upper face with an adapter with truncated cone surfaces. The upper lever 22 extends parallel to the lower lever 21 and is provided on its upper face with an adapter 25 via which the receiving funnel 18, provided on the underside with an adapter bushing part (corresponding to 24) for connection to the adapter 25, can be adjustably attached.

The pivot hinge 23 between the two levers 21, 22 is arranged in such a way that it is located in the perpendicular load line 14, that is to say 20 mm in front of the knee axis 19. The dorsally directed free ends of the levers 21, 22 are connected to each other via an interposed central damper 26, an upper damper 27 mounted externally on the upper lever 22, and an outer damper 28 mounted on the lower lever 21, by means of a tensioning arrangement 29 with outer contact disks 30 holding the arrangement together such that the dampers 26 to 28 are contacted, but not compressed. If the pivot hinge 23 is located with the pivot axis in the perpendicular load line 14, the free ends of the levers 21, 22 are free of force, such that the dampers 26 to 28 remain uncompressed.

By contrast, if the perpendicular load line 14 is arranged dorsally from the pivot hinge 23, because of an incorrect adjustment, the two levers 21, 22 are pressed against each other at their free ends, such that the central damper 26 is compressed. The compression, leading to a deformation of the central damper 26, is easily detectable, such that the central damper 26 serves as an indicator of a rearward shifting of the perpendicular load line 14.

By contrast, if the load line 14 is located in front of the pivot hinge 23, this results in a torque that presses the free ends of the levers 21, 22 away from each other, such that the outer dampers 27, 28 are compressed, and thus deformed. The outer dampers 27, 28 thus serve as indicators of a forward shifting of the load line 14 from the ideal state.

It will be readily apparent that the dampers 26, 28 can be replaced by electronic force transducers (voltage transducers, acceleration transducers) in order to determine the torques acting on the levers 21, 22. Since these electronic force transducers operate with measurement paths that are imperceptible, such a detector arrangement can remain in the prosthesis during its normal use, since the measurement arrangement does not lead to play in the prosthesis arrangement.

The simpler and more economical design of the detector arrangement with the dampers 26 to 28 requires, by contrast, the replacement of the detector arrangement by an adapter insert for normal use of the prosthesis arrangement.

In one simple embodiment, the pivot hinge 23 can also be formed by a solid hinge. The indicators can in this case also be formed by switches. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. An orthopedic aid for attachment to an extremity, comprising: an adjustment element for adjustably positioning the aid relative to the extremity; a position detector for indicating the position of the aid relative to the extremity, the position detector including: at least one lever positioned with respect to the extremity such that a portion of the lever is moveable in a measuring plane upon the application of a torque force to the lever caused by the extremity; and at least one force indicator that is adapted to measure movement of the lever in the measuring plane.
 12. The orthopedic aid of claim 11, wherein the lever includes a first portion which is fixed with respect to the measuring plane and a second portion which is moveable in the measuring plane.
 13. The orthopedic aid of claim 12 wherein the first portion includes a pivot point about which the second portion moves in the measuring plane upon the application of the torque force.
 14. The orthopedic aid of claim 13 wherein the pivot point is positionable perpendicular to a load line formed by the extremity relative to the orthopaedic aid such that substantially no torque force is applied to the lever.
 15. The orthopedic aid of claim 14, wherein when the pivot point is not positioned perpendicular to the load line, a torque force is applied to the lever.
 16. The orthopedic aid of claim 13, wherein the first portion includes a rotating portion that rotates about the pivot point upon the application of the torque force.
 17. The orthopedic aid of claim 11 wherein the at least one force indicator is positioned relative to the lever to limit movement of the lever upon the application of the torque force.
 18. The orthopedic aid of claim 17 further including a plurality of force indicators positioned to limit movement of the lever in opposing directions in the measuring plane.
 19. The orthopedic aid of claim 11 wherein the force indicators include electronic force transducers.
 20. The orthopedic aid of claim 11 wherein the force indicators include deformable elements.
 21. The orthopedic aid of claim 11 further comprising a locking element for preventing movement of the lever in the measuring plane.
 22. The orthopedic aid of claim 11 wherein the position detector includes at least two levers having respective first portions which are fixed with respect to the measuring plane and respective second portions which are moveable in opposing directions in the measuring plane.
 23. The orthopedic aid of claim 23 comprising movement indicators disposed adjacent an upper and lower surface of the second portions of the first and second levers.
 24. The orthopedic aid of claim 11 wherein the orthopedic aid is a foot prosthesis, and the first portion of the lever is connected to at least one spring that forms the sole of the foot.
 25. The orthopedic aid of claim 11 wherein the orthopedic aid includes a prosthetic knee joint.
 26. A method of adjusting an orthopedic aid relative to an extremity comprising: positioning an orthopedic aid relative to the extremity, the orthopedic aid including at least one lever having a fixed end, and a free end which pivots relative to the free end along a measuring plane upon the application of a torque force. positioning the extremity to apply a load to the orthopedic aid along a load line; measuring the torque applied to the lever by the load based on the movement of the free end in the measuring plane; adjusting the position of the orthopedic aid relative to the extremity to minimize the amount of applied torque caused by the load; and fixing the free-end of the lever from movement after adjustment and prior to using the orthopedic.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein measuring the amount of torque includes measuring an amount of deformation of a plurality of dampers positioned adjacent the at least one lever.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein measuring the amount of torque comprises measuring a deviation of the pivot joint from the load line.
 29. The method of claim 26, wherein adjusting the position of the orthopedic aid includes aligning the pivot joint of the at least one lever relative to the load line of the extremity. 